February 24, 2025
FencingDB: A Fencing Duel Database
I have launched FencingDB, an early-stage database of fencing duels, as part of my research with Elise Defrasne. This represents an important step in our scientific analysis of fencing, aiming to provide new insights for sports science.
Access FencingDBWhy a Fencing Duel Database?
Each fencing duel is a unique moment where two opponents challenge their minds, bodies, and techniques. Our database captures this uniqueness by collecting and structuring videos of real duels from international competitions and training sessions. The goal is to provide an open resource for the mathematical study of movements, strategies, and the dynamics of each duel.
An Inheritance from Agrippa's Geometry
Inspired by Camillo Agrippa, a pioneer of geometrical fencing in the 16th century, we view a fencing duel not as a static space perceived by spectators, but as a dynamic interplay of evolving spaces shaped by the continuous movements of fencers. Our database is designed to explore these mathematical concepts by precisely mapping movements to enable a detailed analysis of the duel up to the decisive touch.
Artificial Intelligence and Computer Vision
Our database integrates artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision to support a structured, data-driven analysis of fencing duels. This approach enables the study of key movement dynamics, including:
- Motion schemes: Mapping dynamic spaces within duels
- Rhythm: Analyzing movement alternations and sequences
- Posture: Examining how fencers adjust their positioning
- Time: Investigating how fencers contextualize their actions within nested temporalities
By leveraging motion capture and structured data, FencingDB provides precise tools for studying the complexities of fencing from both quantitative and qualitative perspectives.
Open Science and Innovation
In the spirit of open science, our database is freely accessible to both the scientific and sports communities. This approach facilitates dissemination of scientific findings and multidisciplinary research. Beyond fencing, we envision applications in other sports and movement-based disciplines where the study of human motion plays a central role.